Several local elections Tuesday will decide the fate of three local school boards, the College of the Canyons board and a local water board.

The election could also influence the future of the westside unincorporated communities.

Residents of Castaic and Val Verde must pick three candidates to fill three seats on the board that oversees the three elementary schools and the middle school that comprise the Castaic Union School District.

Voters in Newhall and portions of Stevenson Ranch and Valencia will be asked to pick from four candidates to fill three seats in Newhall School District. Incumbent Michael McGrath, whose name will appear on the ballot, was an early scratch from the contest, dropping from the race in September.

Two valleywide elections will determine who serves on the Santa Clarita Community College District, which oversees COC. Voters will be asked to pick from four candidates for seat one and two hopefuls running for seat three.

Residents across the valley will also get a chance to choose  three board members from the five candidates running for the board of the William S. Hart Union High School District.

The Newhall County Water District, which has a service area scattered across the Santa Clarita Valley, will fill three seats on its board through the election Tuesday. Four candidates are vying for the position.

Election Day could spell changes for the westside unincorporated communities, as voters will be asked to voice their preference for governing the communities of Stevenson Ranch, Tesoro Del Valle, Val Verde, Castaic, Sunset Pointe, Southern Oaks and Westridge.

Voters will be asked to vote yes or no on three separate measures, each representing a different form of governance. The first measure will ask whether voter support remaining part of unincorporated Los Angeles County. The second option would ask the same residents whether they would support forming their own city.

The third measure will ask whether residents of the westside whether they would support a negotiated annexation by the city of Santa Clarita.

Voters who filled out an absentee ballot but haven’t mailed it in yet can do so at their polling place.

For information on where to vote, go to www.lavote.net/LOCATOR/Default.cfm, or call (562) 466-1373.